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Kate Middleton's Family Tree, from Her Siblings to Her Cousin Ellen DeGeneres (Seriously)

Kate Middleton and Prince William are busy raising three kids and helping Queen Elizabeth run the monarchy. Of course, every now and again they decide to take some time off with just their family (most recently in the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall).

And while we’re already super familiar with the couple’s children, Prince George (8), Princess Charlotte (6) and Prince Louis (3), we're now taking a look at another  piece of the Duchess of Cambridge’s inner circle—her parents and siblings (oh, and one very special cousin). You’ll probably recognize the Middletons by name, but there’s a lot we previously didn't know about the royal-adjacent gang. For instance, were you aware that in 1987, Kate’s parents started Party Pieces, a party supply company, when their daughter-turned-duchess was just five years old? Or that they are actually related to Ellen DeGeneres?

Read on for everything you need to know about Kate Middleton’s family tree.

micahel middleton
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1. Michael Middleton (dad)

Catherine’s father, aka Michael Francis Middleton, was born in Leeds, England to a wealthy Yorkshire family with ties to the British aristocracy. As a young adult, he attended Clifton College in Bristol before working as a flight dispatcher for British Airways, where he ended up meeting his wife (more on her later). Before his eldest daughter became the Duchess of Cambridge, the now 72-year-old was granted a coat of arms as the armigerous head of the family. It’s also important to mention that he has a wonderful relationship with his son-in-law William, who, according to royal author Katie Nicholl, affectionately calls Kate's father “Mike” and on occasion “Dad.”

carole middleton
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2. Carole Middleton (mom)

Born to parents Dorothy Harrison and Ronald Goldsmith, Carole is the youngest of two children (her brother Gary is the successful founder of an IT recruitment firm). She grew up in London before meeting Michael while working as a flight attendant for British Airways. With some help from her hubby, Carole started the family’s party supply company while she was a stay at home mom. Fun fact: The grandmother of five told The Telegraph she’s a vegan or ‘flexitarian,’ meaning she’s mostly vegan, but not when it’s impolite to tell your host you can’t eat what’s on the menu. Smart.

pippa middleton
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3. Pippa Middleton (sister)

Philippa Charlotte (ah now we see where they got the name from) Middleton is the middle child to parents Carole and Michael. Known for her incredibly chic style, the 37-year-old graduated from the University of Edinburgh before embarking on a career in public relations and events management. Like her other siblings, Pippa even spent some time working for the family business. Add to that list, she’s also a wife and a mother. Middleton tied the knot with James Matthews in 2017 and the couple welcomed their first child together, Arthur Michael William Matthews, in October 2018. Back in March, Arthur got a little sister, Grace Elizabeth James.

james middleton
David M. Benett / Getty Images

4. James Middleton (brother)

And then there’s Kate and Pippa’s little brother James. The 34-year-old is an entrepreneur with a love for animals, especially dogs. Not only does he own a custom marshmallow company (Boomf), but he also launched a dog food company called Ella & Co (named after one of his pooches). The animal lover’s brand offers freeze-dried raw food with healthy, natural ingredients. As far as his personal life goes, Kate’s little bro is currently engaged to French financier Alizee Thevenet. The couple was due to say “I do” last year, however they had to call things off thanks to the pandemic. However, they still managed to purchase a new home together.

5. Ellen Degeneres (cousin)

We know what you’re thinking, “This can’t be true.” Well, according to DeGeneres (and a letter from the New England Historic Genealogical Society) it is. Yup, the 63-year-old comedian revealed on her show in 2011 that she's the duchess’s 15th cousin. The two are related through a man by the name of Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife, Agnes Gascoigne, who lived in the United Kingdom in the early 1500s.

Now that’s an impressive family tree.

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